Flask handling equipment



Sept 29, 1964 J. M. CARPENTER ETAL FLASK HANDLING EQUIPMENT Filed Jan. 31, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept- 29 1964 J. M. CARPENTER ETAL 3,150,425

FLAsK HANDLING EQUIPMENT Filed Jan. 3l, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept 29, 1964 J. M. CARPENTER ETAL 3,150,425

FLASK HANDLING EQUIPMENT 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 31, 1961 Sept.` 29, 1964 J. M. CARPENTER ETAL FLAsx HANDLING EQUIPMENT 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 3l, 196i Sepf- 29, 1964 J. M. CARPENTER ETAL 3,150,425

FLASK HANDLING EQUIPMENT Filed Jan. 51, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Sepf- 29, 1964 v J. M. CARPENTER ETAL. 3,150,425

FLASK HANDLING EQUIPMENT Filed Jan. 3l, i961 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Sept. 29, 1954 J. M. CARPENTER ETAL 3,150,425

FLASK HANDLING EQUIPMENT 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 31, 1961 United States Patent() 3,150,425 FLASK HANDLING EQUIPMENT John M. Carpenter, .lames N. Sutherland, and Edwin G. Voegt, Chicago, lll., assignors to Link-Belt Company, a corporation of Illinois Filed Sian. 31, 1961, Ser. No. 86,202 1t) Claims. (Cl. 22 95.5)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in foundry equipment and its operation. More specifically, the invention is directed to a method of flask handling and automatically operable equipment for separately removing the mold sand and cast material from the cope and drag of a flask type foundry mold.

In a conventional foundry system, sand molds are formed in flasks, each flask consisting of a cope as the upper section and a drag as the lower section. The molten metal to be cast is poured into the cavity in the flask as defined between the parting line of the mold sand within the cope and drag of the flask. Upon cooling the solidified cast material must be separated from the mold sand. Thereafter, the sand is processed for reuse and the cope and drag sections are returned for reuse in forming another sand mold by repetition of the molding operation.

The operation of removing and separating the casting and sand from the flasks is generally referred to as being carried out in the shake-out-zone of the foundry systern whereat this shake-out operation has been performed manually. The conditions for the foundry workers at a manually performed shake-out zone are particularly bad due to the fact that quantities of fine mold Sand are released to the atmosphere as dust as each flask is emptied and the castings separated from the sand. Additionally, the handling of heavy ilasks and separating the mold sand and castings is an extremely laborious task considering the extreme weight of many of the large flasks, castings, etc.

In the past, various proposals for performing the shakeout operation by automatic means have been proposed. Many of these proposals still require a certain degree of manual intervention. Thus, these do not eliminate the problem of requiring workers to be continuously exposed to the unfavorable working conditions existing around the shake-out area and calling for the severe manual exertion of foundry workers in performing this operation. Also in the absence of avoiding the necessity for foundry Workers being in the shake-out area and performing the operation, foundry costs are maintained unreasonably high.

It is a principal object of the instant invention to provide fully automatic foundry equipment and a foundry operation method for separately removing the mold sand and cast material from the cope and drag of the foundry flasks thereby conditioning the cope and drag for their reuse.

It is another important object of this invention to provide improved flask handling equipment and a foundry operation method wherein the flask cope and drag are separated and the mold sand and cast material separately removed from each of the cope and drag for their reuse.

Still another object of this invention is to provide automatic equipment of the type mentioned in the above objects in which, in conjunction with separating the casting containing cope and drag, probe means are provided to insure release of the cast material from the sand in the cope such that this cast material remains in the drag for subsequent dumping therefrom.

A further object of this invention is to provide equipment in accordance with the above object in which dumping of the cast material from the drag is effected in conice junction with the operation of probe means operable to release the cast material from the sand in the drag.

An additional object of the instant invention is to provide flask handling equipment for use in separating sand and cast material from the cope and drag of flasks in a foundry operation wherein the cope and drag are separated to leave the cast material with the drag, the drag manipulated to release the cast material to dump it from the sand contained within the drag followed by the removal of the mold sand from both the cope and drag as effected by jolting the cope and drag, leaving them in condition for return to the mold forming area for their reuse.

It is also an object of the instant invention to provide flask handling equipment for use in a foundry operation embodying the features of the above object and wherein the drag is inverted so as to be properlydisposed for reuse at the mold forming area.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide automatic flask handling equipment wherein the flask containing the solidified cast material has the cope and drag individually engaged and moved in opposite directions accompanied by insertion of probe means through the cope such that the cope and drag are separated with the cast material remaining with the drag, followed by transfer of the drag and dumping the cast material therefrom at which time probe means are inserted through the drag to release the cast material from the drag sand, the cope and drag then being subjected to a jolting operation such that the sand is removed therefrom to place the copejand drag in condition for their reuse.

The above and other more specific objects and novel features of the instant invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to define the'limits of the invention but rather to merely illustrate a preferred embodiment and structure incorporating the features of the instant invention and useable to carry out the method of the subject invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and wherein like reference numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE-l is a plan view of the-automatic flask handling equipment showing somewhat diagrammatically in certain instances, the layout of the stations for handling the cope and drag of foundry flasks.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2 shown on FIGURES l and 3.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3 3 shown on FIGURES l and 2.

FIGURE 4 is asectional view taken on line 4 4 of FIGURE l showing details of the cast material dump station 69.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5 5 of FIGURE 1 also showing details of the dump station but with parts omitted to avoid undue complication in illustrating the structure.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6 6 shown on FIGURES l and 7 but omitting detail-s ofV some background parts not within the general plane through which the section is taken. v

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7 7 shown on FIGURES l and 6.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8 8 of FIGURE 1 showing the drag turnover device station, and

FIGURE 9 is a diagram graphically illustrating a timing cycle for the control sequence of the various mechanisms in the flask handling equipment.

General Arrangement Before undertaking to describe the specific features and mechanisms illustrated in the embodiment on the drawings, a brief summary of the foundry flask handling proposal herein will be given.

In the apparatus, the flask containing the cooled solidied cast materials is conveyed to a first station within the equipment termed the flask separating station. At this station, the flanges on the drag are engaged and held down while the flanges on the cope are grasped by a grapple. Thereby, the cope and drag are moved apart so that the cope is separated from the drag. Accompanying this separating action, probes are inserted downwardly throughout the sand in the cope to engage the cast material and press it from the cope, thereby assuring that the cast material remains with the drag.

The drag with the cast material still embedded in the upper face of the mold sand is shifted to a cast material dump station while the cope is transferred by the grapple to a jolting machine at a cope jolting station. At the dump station, the drag enters a drag holder and probes are inserted through the drag mold sand to engage the cast material and release it while the drag is swung in the holder through an arc to discharge the cast material into a transfer pan mounted adjacent the swing axis of the drag holder. The cast material is caught in the transfer pan and this pan is then tipped to discharge the material onto a suitable conveyor to be carried away from the equipment. The drag is then shifted from the drag holder to a position where it is transferred onto a jolting machine at a drag jolting station.

At the cope jolting station and at the drag jolting station, the cope and drag are clamped on the respective jolting machines and subjected to jolting action to jar free the sand contained within the cope and drag. This sand passes down chutes onto a suitable conveyor for removal from the equipment to a point where it will be appropriately processed for reuse.

After being cleared of sand at the jolting stations, the cope and drag are released from the respective jolting machines and transferred to respective cope and drag lowering stations by means of which the cope and drag are lowered to a level to be conveyed back to the mold forming area of the foundry system. In this procedure, the cope is pushed off of its lowerer onto a suitable cope return conveyer. The drag is pushed off of its lowerer into the pocket of a turnover device at a drag turnover station. The turnover device is thereupon operated to invert the drag. The drag is then pushed from the turnover device onto a drag return conveyor. By reason of its having been inverted, the drag is disposed in proper relation to be directly reused in the mold forming area.

A suitable hood may be provided overlying the flask handling equipment to facilitate withdrawal of dust laden atmosphere which may result from the operations performed by the equipment.

Flask Separating Station Referring to FIGURE 1, the various stations may be seen in this plan view of the flask handling equipment. It should be kept in mind that FIGURE 1 is somewhat diagrammatic and that no attempt has been made to illustrate in this figure all of the various structural details present at the various stations. These structural details as far as are pertinent to the invention claimed herein are shown in one or another of the other views on the drawings.

The flask F which contains the solidified cast material, as for example, a single casting, and which flask is made up of a cope C and a drag D is conveyed into the flask handling equipment 10 on a suitable roller conveyor 11 such as provided by the parallel roller mounting tracks shown in FIGURE 1. The flask may be pushed into the equipment by any suitable pusher means (not shown).

However, it will be understood that the feeding of successive flasks into the equipment 10 is appropriately controlled such that a flask will not be pushed in until the preceding flask has been appropriately handled and the cope and drag thereof moved from the initial station so that this station is clear to receive the next flask.

The flask F is introduced initially into a flask separating station 15. The structural details of this station are best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The flask F made up of a cope C and drag D passes into station 15 onto a pair of track sections 16 carrying rollers 17 as shown in FIGURE 2. Movement into station 15 on the roller tracks is limited by a bumper stop 14 mounted as shown in FIGURE 3. Each of the track sections 16 has a hold down flange 13 such that the bottom flange of drag D passes beneath these hold down flanges 18 and is engaged thereby in holding the drag during the flask separating action.

The track sections 16 are mounted on upstanding posts 19 which extend upwardly from a cross beam 20. Beam 20 carries sleeves 21 at the opposite ends thereof, these sleeves slidably engaging with vertical columns 22. Columns 22 are secured at their lower ends on the base framework of the equipment. An extensible fluid motor 35 is connected between the beam 20 and base framework 30. This motor is effective to raise and lower beam 2f) as guided by columns 22 and by such movement effect raising and lowering of the roller carrying track sections 16. As will be recognized from subsequent description, the lowering of the track sections 16 and engagement of flanges 18 with the flanges of drag D operates to separate the cope and drag.

To collect any mold sand which may become dislodged from the cope and drag during the flask separating operation, a suitable sheet metal chute 31 is provided beneath the station to guide the sand to a conveyor operable to take it away from the equipment.

The flask separating station 15 has associated therewith a cope engaging grapple 40. As shown more clearly in FIGURE 2, the apparatus provides a pair of grapples mounted in longitudinally spaced relation on a trolley 41. Trolley 41 has flanged wheels 42 that engage with parallel channel tracks 43 mounted to extend horizontally above the flask separating station 15 as well as the cope jolting station and cope lowering station. The pair of grapples 40 are operable to grasp the cope C in connection with its manipulation at station 15 and transfer the cope through the cope jolting station to the cope lowering station at which point the cope is lowered to a cope return conveyor.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, each of the grapples 40 includes two pairs of angled arms with each pair being pivotally mounted at spaced points on a shaft 44. The two shafts 44 for each grapple 4U are mounted parallel by having their ends fixed to an inner frame 45. Inner frame 45 is mounted on the main framework of trolley 41 to permit a limited degree of vertical free movement between the inner frame 45 and the framework of trolley 41. This lost motion mounting or connection while permitting some vertical movement of the inner frame still restricts the degree of upward and downward movement of the inner frame relative to the main framework of trolley 41. This free movement permits the grapples to raise slightly and lift the cope for transfer, particularly where it is to be lifted and transferred as is' the case in lifting from the bed of the jolting machine at the cope jolting station. The lower ends of each pair of angled grapple arms are interconnected by rods 46 with the ends terminating in in-turned fingers which are engageable beneath the upper flange of cope C in grasping and transferring the cope by operation of the grapple. The upper ends of the grapple arms of each grapple 4t) are connected by linkages 47 to extensible fluid motors 4S such that a pair of motors 48 are provided for each grapple 4i?.

In the case of each motor 48, the cylinder is connected to the main frame of trolley 41 while the plunger is connected to linkage 47. Each pair of motors 48 is operated simultaneously to actuate each grapple and in the operation described hereinafter for controlling the equipment, all four motors 48 on the trolley 41 are operated together to close and open the grapples. It will be appreciated that with two grapples 40 on trolley 41, each grapple can engage a cope C. Then, by shifting the trolley along tracks 43, two copes are simultaneously transferred each to the station succeeding that from which it was picked up.

An extensible fluid motor 50 ismounted with its cylinder secured to support 51 mounted between tracks 43 and the plunger of the motor connected to trolley 41 such that the motor 50 can control movement of the trolley and shifting of the grapples' 40 carried thereby relative to tracks 43.

Avprobe assembly 55 mounting a group of probes 56 is provided intermediate the arms of the grapple 40` disposed at the llask separating station 15. As shown in FIGURE 3, the probe assembly 55 is mounted on the plunger of an extensible fluid motor 57, such motor being connected to the main frame of trolley 41. Guiding links 58 are connected between the probe assembly 55 and the inner frame 45 to confine movement of probes 56 in a generally vertical path. The guiding links may take a form similar to the links shown in FIGURE 5 which guide movements of the drag probes shown on such figure.

In conjunction with the operation of separating the cope and drag at station 15, the probes 56 are inserted through the sand in the cope and engage with the solidified cast material to press it from the cope carried sand insuring that it is released from the cope and will remain on the upper surface of the drag as the ask is separated. Thereafter, motor 57 is operated to withdraw the probes and the grapple 40 employed by shift of trolley 41 to transfer the cope, still containing the mold sand therein, to the cope jolting station at which the sand is removed from the cope as will be described subsequently.

Once the drag D is separated by the lower of track sections 16 under control of fluid motor 35, the drag has the mold sand therein with the cast material, such as a cast article, exposed on the upper surface thereof. The lowering of the track sections 16 with the drag D held theron by flanges 18 positions the drag D as shown in phantom on FIGURE 3 in readiness to be shifted to the cast material dump station 60.

Cast Material Dump Station The details of construction of station 61B are shown in FIGURES 4 and 5.

To effect transfer of the drag from the roller carrying track sections 16 into dump station 60, there is provided a pusher assembly including tracks 65 mounting a pusher dolly 66 which has rollers engaged with tracks 65. Dolly 66 Carries an upstanding pusher 67 and the assembly is mounted to extend beneath the flask at station and be positioned such that when track sections 16 are lowered, the pusher 67 will be disposed to engage medially the edge of drag D. An extensible lluid motor 68 has the cylinder thereof secured to track 65 with the plunger thereof connected to dolly 66 such that the motor may be effective to move the pusher 67 carried by dolly 66 back and forth in effecting transfer of the drag from the flask separating station 15 into cast material dump station 6b. The pusher 67 is pivotally mounted on dolly 66 so that as it is Withdrawn it may swing down and pass beneath the next drag which may be in the lowered position awaiting transfer to the dump station.

As the drag is pushed from the rollers on track sections 16 by pusher 67 it rolls onto a drag holder 70 at the dump station 60. This drag holder has a pair of roller carrying track sections 71 provided with drag supporting rollers 72. The track sections 71 are each provided with a hold-down lip 73, these lips engaging over the flanges -on the drag to retain it on the holder 70 during the cast material dump action.

The holder 70 is mounted on a shaft 75 which extends parallel to the track sections 71 and permits the holder 7ll to swing to a position as shown in phantom in FIG- URE 4 at which position the cast material is discharged from the drag on holder '70. ln the normal position of the holder 7l] as it appears in FIGURE 5, the holder frame rests on the stationary framework 30 of the equipment with load bearing pads 76 disposed between the holder 7l) and framework 31) to support the load as a drag is moved on and off the holder and when the holder returns from the dumping swing. To effect this swinging movement, an actuating arm 78 extends outwardly from the holder mounting shaft 75 and is connected at 79 to a clevis on the plunger of an extensible fluid motor 80. The cylinder of motor 80 is mounted on trunnions 81 secured to the base framework 30 of the equipment.

The holder 70 has mounted thereon a stop 85 which is pivoted at 86 so as to be elevatable in providing a limit to movement of the drag onto the holder 70. Thus, when the drag is pushed from station 15 by pusher 67, with stop S5 in the position shown in FIGURE 5, it will limit movement of the drag and properly locate the drag for the dump operation. The mounting for stop is pivoted at S6 to the frame of holder 70 and has the plunger of an extensible uid motor 83 connected to such mounting. The cylinder of motor 8S is connected at 89 to the frame of holder 79. Motor 88 is thus operable to raise and lower the stop 85, the stop being lowered to permit the drag to be shifted from the holder into the next station as will be described.

A probe assembly 90 -haw`ng a plurality of probes 91 is mounted on holder 70, its movement during raising and lowering being guided by links 92 which are connected between holder 76 and probe assembly 9i). An extensible fluid motor 95 is connected between holder 70 and the probe assembly 90, this motor being operable to raise and lower the probes 91 incident the cast material dumping oper-ation. In this operation to insure that the cast material is released from the sand in the drag, the probes 91 are inserted through the sand, engaging the cast material and forcing it free of the sand. These probes are thereafter withdrawn prior to shifting of the drag to the next station.

Mounted in front of the drag holder 70 and generally below the dump position for the holder shown in phantom in FIGURE 4, there is provided a castings transfer pan 100. This pan is swingably mounted on a shaft 101 supported on trunnions 102 carried by the equipment framework 30. In the full line position on FIGURE 4, the cast material dumped from holder 70 is caught in pan and remains therein pending tipping of the pan to discharge this material on to a suitable take-away conveyor. A crank `arm 103 is secured to control swinging movements of shaft 101 and thereby control tipping of transfer pan 100. An extensible fluid motor 104 is connected to the outer end 0f arm 103 and has the cylinder thereof connected to the framework 30 of the equipment at 105. The end portion of a suitable conveyor for taking away the cast material is shown extending beneath pan 106 on FIGURE 4. This conveyor 110 may take a variety of different forms, an oscillating type conveyor providing a troughlike conveyor surface having been found particularly suitable for this purpose.

Once the drag D has been dumped of the cast material, caught therein, the holder 70 is returned to the full line position in FIGURE 4. The probes 91 will have been withdrawn and stop 85 will be lowered Vto permit the drag to be moved on to the next station.

The mechanism for effecting transfer of the drag from the casting material dump station 60 is best shown in the plan view of FIGURE l. This mechanism embodies a bell crank mounted to pivot about a vertical laxis 121. An extensible fluid motor has the plunger thereof a connected to the end of one arm of bell crank 120 while the cylinder of this motor is secured to the stationary framework of the equipment. The outer end of the other arm of bell crank 120 carries a pusher roller 126.

As shown in FlGURE 4, the pusher roller 126 is disposed at a level such that on pivoting movement of bell crank 120, the roller engages the drag D so that it will be pushed off of the roller carrying track sections 71 and out of the dump station into the next station. When the bell crank reaches the position as shown in phantom on FIGURE 1, the drag D, which now has been stripped of the cast material but still contains the mold sand, will have been shifted into the drag transfer station 130.

Drag Transfer Station The drag transfer station 130 has parallel roller carrying tracks 131 which are rigidly mounted on the equipment framework 30. The rollers of these tracks merely support the drag D as it is moved off of the rollers on holder 70 and into a position to be transferred to the drag jolting station.

A trolley 135 is mounted transversely above tracks 131 to be movable on parallel tracks 136 which extend above the drag transfer station, drag jolting station and drag lowering station. rThe trolley is provided with wheels 137 which engage with tracks 136 and is constructed similarly to trolley 41 as described hereinabove with respect to shifting the cope between the ask separating station, the cope jolting station and the cope lowering station. One difference between trolley 135 and trolley 41 is that trolley 135 is not provided with a probe assembly such as 55 on trolley 41. T-he probe assembly obviously is not provided since at this stage, the drag has been freed of the cast material with only the mold sand remaining.

Trolley 135 thus has a pair of grapples 140, each including two pairs of angled arms connected together and pivotally mounted as at on shafts extending across and mounted on an inner frame 146. As in the case of trolley 41 described above, inner frame 146 is yieldably carried by the main frame of trolley 135 to provide for limited vertical movement of the inner frame relative to the main frame in carrying out the grasping, lifting `and transferring of the drags. Extensible fluid motors 148 are connected between the main frame of trolley 135 and linkages 149 such that the grapples 1411 are operated by actuation of motors 148. An extensible fluid motor 150 has the cylinder thereof mounted on a base 151 supported between tracks 136 with the plunger of this motor connected to the trolley 135 such that movement of the trolley along tracks 136 is controlled by motor 1511.

As in the case of trolley 41, the provision of the spaced pair of grapples on trolley 135 enables two drags D to be lifted and transferred simultaneously. By operation of these grapples, one drag is lifted from the drag transfer station 130 `and transferred to the drag jolting station, while the other drag is lifted from the jolting station and transferred to the drag lowering station.

Cope Jolting Station Previous mention has been made of the cope jolting station and of the drag jolting station. In FIGURE 2, the transfer of the cope C to the cope jolting station 1611 is carried out by the trolley mounted grapples 410; Similarly, in transfer of the drag D from station 130 to the drag jolting station, trolley mounted grapples 140 carry out the transfer.

A jolting machine is mounted at the cope jolting station 160. The details of construction of this machine will not be recited herein as the particular jolting machine construction forms no part of the instant invention. Jolting machines have been used for many years in foundry operations, particularly in conjunction with the forming of sand molds. The jolting machine is thus employed to give a sudden compacting jolt to sand being formed into a mold so that the sand will rapidly compact and acquire shape retaining characteristics. One conventional type of jolting machine operates by raising a heavy table carrying the flask to be jolted, this raising being carried out by introducing fluid under pressure into an expansible chamber motor to raise the table, and then venting the uid pressure from the motor chamber to allow the heavy table to fall rapidly such that a strong jarring action is applied to the flask on the table. In such conventional jolting machines, the jolting is automatically effected in timed sequence to give a series of jolts as long as liuid pressure is applied to the machine. One type of these machines is manufactured by the Herman Pneumatic Machine Co., Zelienople, Penna. Herman et al. Patent 908,- 002 discloses the basic features of such a conventional jolting machine.

In the jolting machine 165, at the cope jolting station 160, a sand chute 167 is associated with the machine with the machine bed designed to `allow sand to pass to the chute such that the cope, when subjected to the jarring action of the jolting machine, has the sand freed therefrom whereupon sand flows downwardly through chute 167 and in turn into a collection chute 168 where it passes onto a suitable conveyor 170. This conveyor 170 is illustrated as having a trough-like upper conveyor surface as shown in section in FlGURE 6 and may be of the oscillating conveyor type although a variety of different conveyor types may be employed as desired.

The jolting machine 165 is provided with hold-down clamps on opposite sides of the jolting machine bed which supports the cope during jolting and through which bed the sand passes to chtite 167. These clamps include Huid pressure operated clamp fingers 176 which are operated to clamp the cope C on the jolting machine once it has been transferred thereto by `the trolley carried grapples 40. These clamps may take any suitable form to vbe operable in effecting releasible clamping of the cope on the jolting machine ybed. Eggert Patent 1,860,- O22 illustrates one form of fluid pressure operated clamps on a jolting machine. This clamp construction could thus be employed on the jolting machine 165. When clamped on the ybed of the jolting machine 165, `the machine is operated for a predetermined time period to apply a `series of jolts to the cope such that the sand Within the cope is jarred loose and falls onto chutes 167 and 16S and is taken away by conveyor 170.

Drag .Io/ting Station The drag jolting station 180 functions identically to the cope jolting station 160 except that the drag instead of the cope is freed from its sand at station 180. A jolting machine 185, having a chute 187 associated therewith, is mounted at station 1811 with a chute 188 mounted below chute 187 4to convey the sand removed from drag D to conveyor 176. The jolting machine is con- -structed similar to jolting machine 165 and has the basic characteristics of jolting machines hereinbefore known to the art.

Hold-down clamps 190 are provided on opposite sides of the bed of jolting machine 135 and include fluid pressure operated hold-down ngers 191. These iingers are actuated once a drag D has been positioned on the bed of the jolting machine to clamp the drag to the bed so that the jolting action may be more effective in freeing the same from the drag.

Cope Lowering Station Once the cope has been freed of its sand, the grapple 411 again engages the cope and lifts it from the bed of the jolting machine 165. Of course, `the hold-down fingers 176 will have been released at this time. The trolley 14.1 thereupon transfers the cope to the cope loweringr station 260.

The lowering device at this station is in the form of a Vertical chain conveyor of the opposed shelf type. The device incorporates a pair of upper shafts 201 and lower shafts 202 which are journaled at 203 and 204 respectively on .the framework 30 of the equipment. Each of these shafts carries spaced sprockets 205 around which `are engaged endless roller chains 206. These chains 206 are bridged at points spaced along their length by members 207, each of which carry a pair of seats S which project outwardly from the members 207 and which provide seats for the cope during its lowering. It will be appreciated that adjacent facing runs of chains 206 operate in parallel paths and that the seats 208 on opposite members 207 form in eifect a shelf on which the cope is lowered; A suitable motor drive unit 210 including a nio-tor and gear reducer is connected to simultaneously drive the upper shafts 201 whereby the bridging members 207 with the projecting seats 208 carried thereby are lowered simultaneously ysuch that the cope supported on such seats will be lowered while maintained Ihorizontal.

A push olf plate 212 mounted on the plunger of an extensible uid pressure motor 215 is secured on the framework 30 adjacent the lower end of the cope lower- King device. This pusher plate is positioned as shown in FIGURE 2 to be operable to push the cope C from its lowered position on the lowering device onto a suitable conveyor 217 Which returns the cope to the mold area for reuse.

The energization of the motor drive unit 210 is appropriately timed as will be described such that the cope is indexed to its lowered position to be pushed off by motor 215 onto cope return conveyor 217 to take it back to the mold forming area for reuse, while at the same time, another set of projecting seats 208 carried by .the chains 206 is positioned at the top of the lowering device in readiness to receive a cope from the transfer trolley 41 with its grapple 40 carrying `another cope'.

Drag Lowering Station A similar lowering device is provided -at the drag lowering station 220 adjacent the drag jolting station 130. This lowering device is identical in construction to the construction of the lowering device described hereinabove with respect to the cope lowering station and accordingly, la detailed description of Ithe device would not appear to be necessary. The motor drive unit 225 for 'this lowering device is appropriately timed .to effect lowering of the drag as will be described hereinafter.

An extensible fluid motor 230 is mounted adjacent the lower end of the lowering device at station 220. This motor carries a pusher plate 232 on its plunger which, upon actuation vof the motor, will push against the drag D pushing it off of the seats mounted on the lowering chains and into the pocket of a drag turnover at the drag turnover station 235. l

Drag Turnover Station The drag turnover at station 235 has a housing 236 which is mounted to rotate in journals 237 mounted on -a base frame 238. The housing provides .a pocket formed between pairs of upper and lower rows of rollers 240 and 241 with one row of each pair mounted respectively along opposite ends of the housing. Counterweights 242 are provided on housing 236 to assist in balancing the housing when a drag is disposed therein.

The drag D is pushed lfrom the lowering device 220 by moto-r 230 into the turnover device pocket where it rolls on rollers 241 until stopped by stub channels 243 fastened to the housing 236 at the end of the pocket therein. A suitable drive 245 is connected to `a shaft 246 which mounts housing 236 and is journaled in journals 237. This drive is operable to rotate the housing through 180 thereby inverting the drag carried within the pocket of the housing. Housing 236 has stops CIK 248 fixed thereto and engageable with the base frame 238 at the extreme positions of movement of the housing.

An extensible fluid pressure motor 250 has the cylinder thereof mounted on the framework 30 of the equipment and provided with a push off plate 251 carried Iby the plunger of such motor. Motor 250 is disposed such that with the housing 236 in its inverted position as shown in phantom in FIGURE 7, the push otf plate 251 will engage the drag, pushing it out of the turnover device and onto a suitable conveyor 255. It will .be appreciated that, in the inverted position of the housing, as drag D is pushed from the housing, it will roll out of the device on rollers 240.

Operation of Flask Handling Equipment An overall statement of the operation of the fiask handling equipment described in detail hereinabove may best be given by reference to FIGURE 9 which graphically depicts a time cycle for the control sequence of the equipment mechanisms. On this ligure the operation sequence for the respective extensible fluid motors, the jolting machines, the lowering device motor drive units and the turnover device drive is shown in the timing relationship of these actuators.

In FIGURE 9 the rst column identities the particular mechanism being operated, the second column identifies the action of the mechanism such as open or close, lower or raise, load or retract, etc. The third column identifies Vthe particular reference numeral which designates the actuator on the drawings that controls the mechanism identified in the rst column.

Merely to exemplify one time cycle, the cycle on the FIGURE 9 Vis divided into fifteen time units each of which may represent one second. Of course it will be understood that the cycle of operation of the equipment may be undertaken in a shorter or longer time period, the important feature of the graphic showing on FIG- URE 9 being the sequence and interrelationship of the operation of the various mechanisms identified.

In actual installation it will be appreciated that the lsequential operation of the various mechanisms will be effected by appropriately located limit switches.V which may be readily operated by the movements of the respective mechanisms by means of appropriate positioning of such limit switches on the equipment. In the case of the jolting-machines a time operated relay is best employed to control operation of the machines for a selected time period during which a series of jolts will be applied to the cope or drag to free the sand therefrom.

The various switches, relays, and wiring which would be incorporated in an installation are not shown on the drawings. Their location to respond to movements of the different mechanisms will be obvious from the time cycle of FIGURE 9 and in accordance with recognized control principles it will be understood that the switches are to be interconnected to control appropriate solenoid valves by means of which, in the case of the extensible iiuid pressure motors, the proper fluid pressure, such as air pressure or oil pressure, will be directed to carry out the called for action of the motor.

Starting with initiation of a cycle of operation of the equipment the cycle may be appropriately started in response to a ask having been transferred over conveyor 11 and being properly located on track sections 16 against stop 14 in the ilask separating station 15. In operation of the equipment an appropriate interlock will of course be provided to prevent the introduction of a second flask into station 1S over conveyor 11 until the station has performed its operations on the iirst flask and the cope and drag of this first flask been transferred from the station to free such station of operation on the next ilask. Likewise, although the description hereinafter will trace the cycle asV it is carried out in the handling of the-cope and drag of one flask, it will be understood that once the equipment has been in operation for several cycles each of the stations Will have one of the copes or drags located thereat and the operations of the respective stations will be carried out at the same time on the copes and drags in the equipment at each of the stations.

With the ask disposed at station 15, fluid pressure motor 48 Will be operated to close the cope grapple 40. As the grapple nears complete closing motor will commence lowering of the track sections 16 to draw the drag D thereon down and at the same time motor 57 will insert the probes 56. Once inserted the probes are immediately withdrawn and with the track sections 16 fully lowered motor 5@ moves trolley 41 to shift the cope and load the jolting machine 165 at station 160. The shift of trolley 41 will also transfer a cope, which has been acted upon by and released from the jolting machine 165, onto the cope lowering device at station 200. After motor 5t) is operated the cope grapple 4t) is opened by motor 4S and the ask separating motor 35 operated to raise the track sections 16. Before raising the track sections 16 the motor 68 will have operated pusher 67 to push the drag D from track sections 16 onto the drag holder 70 at the cast material dump station 66. When the cope grapple has been opened by motor 48, motor will eifect retraction of trolley 41 to return the grapples 40 in readiness for the next transfer of a pair of copes.

With the cope C having been transferred to station 160, the jolting machine 165 and hold-down clamps 175 on this machine will be operated for a predetermined time period to apply a series of jolts to the cope While held on the machine by clamps 175.

During the operation of retraeting the cope transfer trolley 41 and the jolting period of machine 175 the cope lowering device at station 2G10 will have been driven by motor drive unit 21@ and stopped at a point where a precedingly handled cope will have been lowered to be in alignment with the cope push off motor 215. Once the lowering device has indexed to this point, motor 215 will be operated to push olf the cope from the seats 268 on the lowering device onto the end of belt conveyor 217. Immediately motor 215 is retracted and a succeeding index movement of lowering device at station 200 initiated.

The motor 68 heretofore mentioned as having operated to shift the drag D and load the cast material dump station is retracted commencing near the end of the raising of track sections 16 by motor 35. In conjunction with operation of motor 68 to push the drag onto holder 70 the drag holder stop 85 is raised by motor With the stop raised the drag holder Fit) is swung by motor 30 to dump the cast material from the drag on the holder. Toward the end of this dumping movement the drag probes 91 are inserted by motor 95 to free the cast material from the drag contained sand. These probes are thereafter immediately withdrawn While motor 30 commences the return swing of the drag holder 70.

The cast material falls into the transfer pan 1%() which is in an upright position. When the drag holder '70 is fully returned, motor 104 initiates tilting of the transfer pan 19th to discharge the cast material onto conveyor 110. After full tilt of the pan the motor immediately returns the pan to its upright position in readiness to receive the next quantity of cast material dumped thereinto by the dumping swing of the drag holder 70 after it has received the next drag from the flask separating station 15.

Also, when the drag holder 70 has been fully returned motor operates to swing bell crank 120 and through pusher roller 125 transfer the drag which now contains only the mold sand to the drag transfer station 139. At this station motor 14S operates to close the drag grapples 141) to grasp and lift drag D after which motor 150 effects movement of trolley to transfer the drag to the drag jolting station 130.

After effecting full movement of the trolley the motor 148 is again operated, this time to open the drag grapples. When the drag grapple has been opened the motor 150 commences retracting of the trolley 135 to return the grapples thereon for the next engagement with a pair of drags. It will be appreciated that as in the case of the above described transfer of the copes the preceding drag which was located at the drag jolting station would have been transferred by the above mentioned movement of trolley 135 onto the seats 208 on the drag lowering device at station 220.

When motor 15) has retracted the trolley 135 the jolting machine and its clamps 190 are set into operation for a predetermined time period during which a series of jolts are applied to the drag while clamped on the jolting machine by hold down clamps 190. This time period is such that the jolting is terminated and the clamps released in time for the next closing of the drag grapple as effected by motor 148 at which time the drag which has been jolted free of sand is grasped and transferred to the drag lowering device at station 220.

The drag lowering device at station 220 through motor drive unit 225 starts lowering the drags disposed thereon after opening of the drag grapple by motor 148. This opening of the drag grapple disposes a drag on the seats at the top of the drag lowering device. The lowering device operates until seats thereon are aligned with the push off motor 230. At this point motor drive unit 225 stops and operation of motor 230 is initiated to push the drag off of the lowering device seats and into the pocket of the turnover device at station 235. When motor 230 has loaded the turnover device it is retracted and at the same time drive 245 on the turnover device commences forward rotation of the turnover housing 236 in the direction shown by the arrow on FIGURE 7.

When the drive 245 has turned the housing 236 through 180 to engage one pair of stops 248 with the frame 238, the push off motor 250 is energized to push the drag out of the turnover device pocket and onto the drag return conveyor 255. After the drag is `out of the turnover device motor 250 is retracted and drive 245 operates in a reverse direction to swing the turnover housing back to engage the other pair of stops 248 with frame 238 and place the turnover device pocket in readiness to receive the next drag from the drag lowering device.

It is to be understood that the method and form of this invention herewith shown and described |are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the steps, shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spi-rit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

l. Flask handling equipment for use in separating sand and cast material from the cope and drag of the flask in a foundry operation comprising means for passing a flask containing mold sand and solidified cast material therein to a flask separating station, means at said ask separating station individually engageable with the cope and drag of the flask, said individually engageable means being movable in opposite directions to separate the cope from the drag, probe means at said ask separating station insertable through the sand in the cope to engage the cast material and release the cast material from this sand, means for shifting the drag to a cast material dump station provided with dump means engageable with the drag to dump the cast material therefrom, probe means associated with said dump means and insertable through the sand in the drag to engage the cast material and release the cast material from the sand therein, means for moving the cope and the drag to jolting means Whereat the sand is removed from the cope and drag, and means for removing the cope and the drag from the equipment for reuse.

2. Flask handling equipment for use in separating sand and cast material from the cope and drag of the flask in a foundry operation comprising means for passing a ask containing mold sand and solidified cast material therein -to a flask separating station, means at said flask separating station individually engageable with the cope and drag of the flask, said individually engageable means being movable in opposite directions to separate the cope from the drag, probe means at said flask separating station insertable through the sand in the cope to engage the cast material 4and release lthe cast material from this sand, means for shifting the drag to a cast material dump station provided with dump means engageable with the drag to dump the cast material therefrom, probe means associated with said dump means and insertable through the sand in the drag to engage the cast material and release the cast material from the sand therein, conveyor means mounted beneath said dump means to convey 4the cast material from the equipment, jolting means for receiving the cope and the drag and removing the sand therefrom, conveyor means associated with said jolting means to convey the removed sand from the equipment, and means for removing the cope and the drag from the equipment for their reuse.

3. Flask handling equipment for use in separating sand and ca-st material from the cope and drag of the flask in a foundry operation comprising means for passing a flask containing mold sand and solidified cast material therein to a flask separating station, means at said flask separating station individually engageable with the cope and drag of the flask, said individually engageable means being movable in opposite directions to separate the cope from the drag, probe means at said flask separating station insertable through the sand in the cope to engage the cast material and release the cast material from this sand, means for moving the cope to a cope jolting station, jolting means at said cope jolting station engageable with the cope to jolt the sand therefrom, means for removing the cope from said cope jolting station for reuse, means for shifting the drag to a cast material dump station, dump means at said cast material dump station engageable with the drag for dumping the cast material therefrom, probe means insertable through the drag to engage the cast material and release the cast material from the sand therein, means for moving the drag to a drag jolting station, jolting means at said drag jolting station engageable with the drag to jolt the sand therefrom, and means for removing the drag from said drag jolting station for reuse.

4. Flask handling equipment for use in separating sand and cast material from the cope and drag of the flask in a foundry operation comprising a flask separating station having holding means to engage the drag and releasable means to grasp the cope, said holding means and said releasable means being mounted to be movable toward and away from each other in separating the cope from the drag, probe means mounted to be insertable through the cope to engage the cast material and release the solidified cast material from the sand in the cope, said releasable means being mounted to transport the cope to a jolting means for removal of the sand from the cope, a drag holder mounted to receive the drag and be swingable about an axis extending along one edge of the holder, probe means associated with said holder to be insertable through the sand in a drag on said holder to engage the cast material and release the cast material from the sand, transfer means 'for shifting the drag to a jolting means for removal of the sand from the drag, and means for removing the cope and the drag from the equipment for their reuse.

5. Flask handling equipment as recited in claim 4 wherein a casting transfer pan is mounted adjacent the swing axis of said holder to catch the cast material discharged frorn a drag, and conveyor means is mounted beneath said transfer pan to receive and convey away cast material.

6. Flask handling equipment for use in separating sand and cast material from the cope and drag of the flask in a foundry operation comprising means for passing a flask containing mold sand and solidified cast material therein to a flask separating station, means at said flask separating station individually engageable with the cope and drag of the flask, said individually engageable means being movable in opposite directions to separate the cope from the drag, probe means at said flask separating station insertable through the sand in the cope to engage the cast material and release the cast material from this sand, means for shifting the drag to a cast material dump station provided with dump means engageable with the drag to dump the cast material therefrom, probe means associated with said dump means and insertable through the drag to engage the cast material and release the cast material from the sand therein, jolting means for receiving the cope and the drag and removing the sand there from, means for inverting the drag in preparation for its reuse, and means for removing the cope and the drag from the equipment for their reuse.

7. Flask handling equipment for use in separating sand and cast material from the `cope and drag of the flask in a foundry operation comprising a flask separating station having holding means to engage with the drag and releasable means to grasp the cope, said holding means being mounted to move away from said releasable means in separating the cope from the drag, probe means mounted at said flask separating station to be insertable through the cope to engage the cast material and release the solidified cast material from the sand in the cope, said releasable means being mounted to transport the cope to a cope jolting station provided with jolting means to remove the sand from the cope, conveyor means for shifting the drag to a cast material dump station, said cast material dump station having a drag holder mounted to be swingable about an axis extending along one edge of the holder, probe means associated with said holder to be insertable through the sand in a drag on said holder to engage the cast material and release the cast material therefrom from the sand, a fluid motor actuator connected to swing said holder to discharge cast material from a drag positioned on said holder, transfer means for shifting the drag from the cast material dump station to a drag jolting station provided with jolting means to remove the sand from the drag, and means for removing the cope and the drag from the equipment for their reuse.

8, Flask handling equipment for use in separating sand and cast material from the cope and drag of the flask in a foundry operation comprising a flask separating station having lowerable roller tracks to receive the flask and hold the drag of the flask, grapple means above said tracks and operable to grasp the cope of the flask, probe means mounted above said tracks and insertable through the cope sand to engage the cast material and release the cast material from the cope sand, said grapple means being mounted to be movable laterally of said flask separating station to transfer the cope to a jolting means for removal of the sand from the cope, a drag holder mounted to be swingable about an axis extending along one edge thereof, said holder having roller tracks thereon with means to retain a drag on such tracks, means for pushing the drag from said lowerable roller tracks onto the tracks on said holder, probe means associated with said holder to be insertable through the drag sand to engage the cast material and release the cast material therefrom from the drag sand, transfer means for shifting the drag to a jolting means for removal of the sand from the drag, and means for removing the cope and the drag from the equipment for their reuse.

9. Flask handling equipment as recited in claim 8 wherein a casting transfer pan is mounted adjacent the swing axis of said holder to catch the cast material discharged from a drag, and conveyor means mounted beneath said transfer pan to receive and convey away cast material.

10. Flask handling equipment as recited in claim 8 wherein a drag turnover device is provided with transfer means to shift the drag from said jolting means to said turnover device to invert the drag before removing it from UNITED STATES PATENTS Loughran July 11, 1916 Claus May 16, 1933 16 Dinzl Aug. 29, 1939 Grossett Mar. 28, 1944 Papazian Oct. 18, 1948 Woody et a1 Oct. 10, 1950 Lasater et al. July 26, 1955 Deakins et al. Oct. 18, 1960 

1. FLASK HANDLING EQUIPMENT FOR USE IN SEPARATING SAND AND CAST MATERIAL FROM THE COPE AND DRAG OF THE FLASK IN A FOUNDRY OPERATION COMPRISING MEANS FOR PASSING A FLASK CONTAINING MOLD SAND AND SOLIDIFIED CAST MATERIAL THEREIN TO A FLASK SEPARATING STATION, MEANS AT SAID FLASK SEPARATING STATION INDIVIDUALLY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE COPE AND DRAG OF THE FLASK, SAID INDIVIDUALLY ENGAGEABLE MEANS BEING MOVABLE IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS TO SEPARATE THE COPE FROM THE DRAG, PROBE MEANS AT SAID FLASK SEPARATING STATION INSERTABLE THROUGH THE SAND IN THE COPE TO ENGAGE THE CAST MATERIAL AND RELEASE THE CAST MATERIAL FROM THIS SAND, MEANS FOR SHIFTING THE DRAG TO CAST MATERIAL DUMP STATION PROVIDED WITH DUMP MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH THE DRAG TO DUMP THE CAST MATERIAL THEREFROM, PROBE MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID DUMP MEANS AND INSERTABLE THROUGH THE SAND IN THE DRAG TO ENGAGE THE CAST MATERIAL AND RELEASE THE CAST MATERIAL FROM THE SAND THEREIN, MEANS FOR MOVING THE COPE AND THE DRAG TO JOLTING MEANS WHEREAT THE SAND IS REMOVED FROM THE COPE AND DRAG, AND MEANS FOR REMOVING THE COPE AND THE DRAG FROM THE EQUIPMENT FOR REUSE. 